Hydraulically expanded hand tool for rescue purposes

ABSTRACT

A hand tool shaped generally like an axe or mattock, whose head is in two separable pieces which can be forced away from each other by means of a hydraulic cylinder in the handle. It is intended primarily for use in making and enlarging openings in wrecked vehicles and in forcing portions of them apart, as for rescuing persons trapped inside. The tool can make its own holes. It is swung like an axe, and its sharp point chops a hole in, e.g., a vehicle door or roof. Then the hydraulic pressure is admitted to the cylinder in the handle. The two halves of the head are forced apart, enlarging the hole. The hydraulic cylinder is double-acting, so that the tool may also be used as a portable hydraulic press for forcing portions of the wrecked vehicle toward each other, where this is required.

United States Patent [1 1 Leonhardt 1 Oct. 2, 1973 HYDRAULICALLY EXPANDED HAND TOOL FOR RESCUE PURPOSES [75] Inventor: William 0. Leonhardt, Antigua,

Guatemala {73] Assignee: Dale E. Crook, Orange, Calif.

[22] Filed: Oct. 28, 1971 211 App]. No.1 193,321

Primary Examiner-Othell M. Simpson Assistant Examiner-Robert C. Watson Attorney-Lawrence Fleming [57] ABSTRACT A hand tool shaped generally like an axe or mattock, whose head is in two separable pieces which can be forced away from each other by means of a hydraulic cylinder in the handle. It is intended primarily for use in making and enlarging openings in wrecked vehicles and in forcing portions of them apart, as for rescuing persons trapped inside. The tool can make its own holes. It is swung like an axe, and its sharp point chops a hole in, e.g., a vehicle door or roof. Then the hydraulic pressure is admitted to the cylinder in the handle. The two halves of the head are forced apart, enlarging the hole. The hydraulic cylinder is double-acting, so that the tool may also be used as a portable hydraulic press for forcing portions of the wrecked vehicle t0- ward each other, where this is required.

4 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures Ill/ll a Z f/ynm v1.1a

/ pl/MP 74 9 HYDRAULICALLY EXPANDED HAND TOOL FOR RESCUE PURPOSES BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The problem of getting trapped persons out of wrecked vehicles, particularly cars and truck cabs, is well known. Prior tools are known for such purposes, such as a tool shaped in the manner of a caliper. The tips of such a tool in the closed position, are inserted in the crack of ajammed vehicle door or the like, then forced towards the open position by hydraulic means. Such a tool, while effective, is not adapted to making its own opening in the wreck structure; some opening must be available or be made by other means in order that the tip of the tool can be inserted. Cutting torches cannot be used in many wreck situations because of the presence of flammable fuel.

The present invention relates to a novel type of tool which can make its own opening, and then enlarge the opening by hydraulically powered means.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention is a hand tool shaped generally like an axe or mattock, having a head that separates into two parts. These two parts are movable apart by hydraulically transmitted power. The elongated handle of the tool comprises a hydraulic cylinder. When the two parts or halves of the head are together, they constitute an axe head or mattock head. When the tool is manually swung in the manner of an axe, the head can readily penetrate the sheet metal of vehicle bodies and the like. After an opening has been so made, the hydraulic pressure is transmitted to the cylinder in the handle, and forces the two halves of the tool head apart, thereby enlarging the opening.

The tool is intended for opening wrecked vehicles, I

prying fallen objects up or apart, making openings in collapsed buildings, and similar applications as where trapped persons are to be rescued.

The plane of separation of the two halves of the head is perpendicular to the axis of the handle. When the tool has made an opening, the hydraulic piston and piston rod are employed to force the outer half of the head in an outward direction with respect to the inner half of the head. The outer half of the head is fixed to the end of the piston rod.

Considerable force is available to push the two halves or portions of the head apart. In a commercial model of the tool, the area of the hydraulic piston is 3.1 square inches. With a relatively moderate hydraulic pressure of 4,000 pounds per square inch, the force available is a little over 6 tons.

The hydraulic cylinder is double-acting, so that the outer half or portion of the head, when extended, can also be forced back in the inward direction. This feature is required when the tool becomes jammed in the work, or when it is required to force objects toward each other.

The hydraulic pump and controls are normally separate from the tool itself, connected thereto by hoses.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a side view, partly in section, of a tool ac cording to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a partial detail side view showing the tool expanding an opening that it has made;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a portion of a tool head according to the invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the head portion of a modification;

FIG. 5 is a partial end view of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a partial side view of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 7 is a partial perspective view showing the rotational capability of the head.

In FIG. 1, the handle of the tool of the invention is shown at I; it may be tubular, with its inside bore forming the wall of a hydraulic cylinder. A hydraulic piston is shown inside it at 2. A piston rod of relatively large diameter 3 is connected to piston 3, and passes through the bore of the cylinder and on out through a packing gland 7 of any suitable known type. Outside of the packing 7, the piston rod 3 passes into, and is rigidly connected to, the outer portion 4 of the head of the tool. The head is designated collectively as 8. The inner or fixed portion of the head 8 is shown at 5; it is rigidly fixed to the end portion of the handle 1.

The two halves or portions 4 and 5 of head 8 may be held in alignment when the tool is in the closed position (as in FIG. 1) by means of a pin 6 in head portion 4, which fits into a hole in the fixed head portion 5. Other suitable means may be used.

A suitable hydraulic pump of known type is provided, indicated by a block 9, together with suitable valve means of known type 14. To expand, the tool, valve 14 is manually actuated so as to admit hydraulic fluid under pressure into hose l0, thence to the space in cylinder 1 to the right of piston 2. Piston 2, piston rod 3, and head portion 4 then moved to the left. The head portion of the tool in partly expanded position is shown in FIG. 2.

Returning to FIG. 1, the hydraulic piston 2 may also operate to close the tool from the expanded position. To do this, valve means 14 is manually actuated so as to release the hydraulic pressure in hose 10, and admit hydraulic fluid under pressure to hose 11. The fluid passes from hose 11 through a fitting 12 of any suitable type, thence into a small tube 13 which opens into the internal bore of cylinder or handle 1 at 15. Thus, pressure from hose 11 is admitted into the forward portion of the cylinder, forcing the piston 2 to the right and so moving head portion 4 toward the closed position, against head portion 5. This feature of the operation of the invention is required when one portion or structural member of a wrecked or collapsed structure is to be forced toward another member. This is sometimes the most expeditious way of creating space for the escape of a person trapped in wreackage. It is also the normal mode of returning the tool to the closed position. On occasions, substantial force is required to move tool head portion 4 toward the closed position, as when it has made a cut into a wreck, expanded the opening, and become caught in some portion of the wreckage. Several axe-like cuts and subsequent expansions may be required in any single rescue operation.

FIG. 2 shows the head portion of a tool according to the invention in operative relation to a portion 20 of a sheet metal structure, e.g., the roof of a wrecked automobile. An initial opening has already been made in the structure portion 20 by swinging the tool while in the closed position (position of FIG. 1) like an axe, in the vicinity of opening 21, FIG. 2. The hydraulic valve means 14 have then been actuated to admit hydraulic fluid into hose 10, and the tool head has expanded,

forcing apart the sheet metal edges of the initial opening as at 22, 23, to make the enlarged opening 21. A model of the tool of the invention has an expansion range of the order of inches.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the head portion 4 of a form of the tool of the type shown in FIGS. l and 2. The back surface 30 is shaped so as to match substantially the mating surface of the stationary head portion 5 (FIGS. 1, 2) and is preferably flat. A flat mating surface 30 of this kind is shown in FIG. I.

Returning to FIG. 3, the head portion 4 may be generally tapered as at 32 to a substantial point 34, the better to penetrate sheet metal and the like in the manner of an axe or pick. It is apparent that when the two head portions are together in the closed position (FIG. 1), they form a single edge or point suitable for penetration. A spur or barb-like portion 33 is provided on each of the head portions 4, 5 to prevent the head from sliding out of the initial opening when it is expanded by the hydraulic means. Additionally in FIG. 3, a recess 31 of suitable shape may be provided for the purpose of hooking around or engaging members being forced toward each other, to prevent the tool head from slipping off in this mode of operation.

FIG. 4 shows a portion of a tool according to the invention having head portions 4, 5' of a modified shape, in the nature of a mattock. The cutting or penetrating portions 42, 42 of the head portions 4', 5' are here generally chisel-shaped. The heads do not taper as at 32, FIG. 3, but instead are relatively wide as at 41. The tapering is substantially in the plane of the surfaces 49. Spur-like or barb-like portions 43, 43 may also be provided in this modification, to prevent the head portions 4, 5' slipping out of the initial opening when expansion is initiated. When the two head halves 4', 5 of the FIG. 4 modification are in the closed position, the portions 42, 42 come together to form substantially a single cutting or chopping edge. Recesses 3E may also be provided in the FIG. 4 modification.

FIG. 5 is a partial front view of FIG. 4 to show better the shape of the penetrating portion of the head modification.

FIG. 6 is a partial side view of FIG. 4, also to show better the shape of the modified head of FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 is a simplified perspective view of the head portion of a tool such as shown in FIGS. 11-3 to show that upon expansion, the head portion 4 is free to rotate with respect to the fixed head portion 5 and the remainder of the tool. The arrows indicate relative rotation, which may be up to 360. This feature is advantageous in prying operations. It is available as soon as the tool is expanded enough to disengage pin 6 (FIG. I) from the hole into which it fits. The head portion 4 may be made non-rotatable by various obvious means, where this feature is not desired.

The hydraulic hoses 10, 11, FIG. I, may be made as long as required for convenience in operation; A carrying handle 16, FIG. 1, may also be provided, desirably located at approximately the point of balance along the handle I. The term spur termination" means the outer edge or point portion of a spur-like projection such as 23, 33, or 43, shown for example in the drawing as the outermost projecting point or edge portion of the spurs adjacent the lead lines from numerals 33 in FIG. 1. The spur terminations are shown in FIG. 2 as being hooked under the edge portions 23 of the opening 21 in the sheet metal structure 20. It will be seen that the spur terminations define concave portions of the head portions 4, 5, which permit such hooking action and prevent the head portions 4, 5 from slipping out of the opening 21.

I claim:

1. A tool for making openings in wrecked vehicles and the like for rescue purposes, comprising:

a relatively long slender handle adapted to be grasped by the hands;

a hydraulic cylinder in said handle and having a movable piston and piston rod;

stationary hydraulic pump means mechanically separate from said cylinder;

flexible hydraulic hoses connecting said pump means and said cylinder;

a relatively heavy mattock-like head on said handle and having a cutting edge portion and divided into a first and second head portion along substantially a common plane;

said first head portion being attached to said cylinder and said second head portion being attached to said piston rod,

each said head portion being tapered toward said cutting edge portion and each having a single spur-like projection adjacent thereto and of substantial size with respect to said head,

each said projection terminating in a substantially sharp spur termination which bounds a concave portion of each said head portion adapted to hook around the edges of an opening,

said tool being adapted to be swung manually like an axe when said head portions are together to pierce an opening in a sheet metal structure or the like and to enlarge said opening by the separation of said head'portions by the operation of said hydraulic cylinder, sufficiently to permit the egress of a person.

2. A tool as in claim I wherein said cutting edge is substantially a pick-like point, and said cylinder is double-acting.

3. A tool as in claim 2, further comprising opposite recesses in the inner planar surfaces of each said head portion,

said recesses being adapted to be hooked around portions of a wrecked vehicle or the like to force them together.

4. A tool as in claim 1, further comprising:

a pin-like element on the inner portion of one said head portion and a mating hole in the other said head portion,

said pin-like element extending into said hole when said head portions are together to prevent relative rotation, but

said pin-like element being free of said hole when said head portions are substantially separated, said head portions then being capable of relative rotation about the axis of said piston rod. 

1. A tool for making openings in wrecked vehicles and the like for rescue purposes, comprising: a relatively long slender handle adapted to be grasped by the hands; a hydraulic cylinder in said handle and having a movable piston and piston rod; stationAry hydraulic pump means mechanically separate from said cylinder; flexible hydraulic hoses connecting said pump means and said cylinder; a relatively heavy mattock-like head on said handle and having a cutting edge portion and divided into a first and second head portion along substantially a common plane; said first head portion being attached to said cylinder and said second head portion being attached to said piston rod, each said head portion being tapered toward said cutting edge portion and each having a single spur-like projection adjacent thereto and of substantial size with respect to said head, each said projection terminating in a substantially sharp spur termination which bounds a concave portion of each said head portion adapted to hook around the edges of an opening, said tool being adapted to be swung manually like an axe when said head portions are together to pierce an opening in a sheet metal structure or the like and to enlarge said opening by the separation of said head portions by the operation of said hydraulic cylinder, sufficiently to permit the egress of a person.
 2. A tool as in claim 1 wherein said cutting edge is substantially a pick-like point, and said cylinder is double-acting.
 3. A tool as in claim 2, further comprising opposite recesses in the inner planar surfaces of each said head portion, said recesses being adapted to be hooked around portions of a wrecked vehicle or the like to force them together.
 4. A tool as in claim 1, further comprising: a pin-like element on the inner portion of one said head portion and a mating hole in the other said head portion, said pin-like element extending into said hole when said head portions are together to prevent relative rotation, but said pin-like element being free of said hole when said head portions are substantially separated, said head portions then being capable of relative rotation about the axis of said piston rod. 